PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zalt Gaanja (ranked 923 p4p, 1065 weight class) and Chris Coryatt (ranked 140 p4p, 159 weight class). Gaanja comes to the cage accompanied by Nathan Evans - Wellerman. Coryatt has chosen Slim Thug - Welcome 2 Houston as his entrance music. Zalt Gaanja has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gaanja
vs
Coryatt

195 cm
26
190
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
27
185
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers -160Q
Urban Fighter

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zalt Gaanja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Coryatt!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaanja fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Coryatt avoids it really well and circles away.
Coryatt ducks under a wild hook from Gaanja.
Coryatt swings for the body but Gaanja moves out of range.
Gaanja was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Coryatt tries to bum rush Gaanja with a series of wild strikes but Gaanja uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gaanja half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Gaanja misses with a body shot.
Gaanja looks to score with a jab to the body but Coryatt is just out of range.
Gaanja with a hook.
Zalt Gaanja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaanja looks to land a left hand but Coryatt moved out of range nicely.
Gaanja backing away here, and Coryatt unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Gaanja throws an overhand right that lands on Coryatt's shoulder, as Coryatt tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coryatt tries to clinch but Gaanja moves out of range.
Coryatt lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A slow jab from Gaanja misses its intended target.
Coryatt takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Coryatt slips a straight right by Gaanja.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coryatt moves away from the strike by Gaanja.
Gaanja lands a jab to the nose.
Gaanja connects with a nice looking jab.
Gaanja keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Coryatt's coach down at Kalashnikov ELITE MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Coryatt's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Gaanja takes a swing at Coryatt's ribcage but misses.
Gaanja throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Coryatt takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gaanja lands an overhand right.
Chris Coryatt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gaanja lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Coryatt is rocked!
Gaanja lands the left hand.
Coryatt is still on wobbly legs! Can Gaanja finish him?
Coryatt scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Coryatt scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Coryatt seems to have recovered his senses.
Coryatt ducks under a wild hook from Gaanja.
Coryatt tries to land a body kick
and Coryatt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Gaanja misses
and Coryatt connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Coryatt lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Coryatt ducks right into an uppercut from Gaanja.
Gaanja avoids the body shot from Coryatt.
A big right from Gaanja misses.
Coryatt throws a nice looking combination but Gaanja bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A shot to the liver by Gaanja. Beautiful body shot.
Coryatt has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Coryatt there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gaanja works Coryatt's body with a nice hook.
Gaanja darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Gaanja! Coryatt is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zalt Gaanja!
During a confident post fight interview, Zalt Gaanja thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.